Curing affluenza : how to buy less stuff and save the world / Richard Denniss.

Includes bibliographical references.

Preface -- 1. Diagnosing the disease -- 2. A good dose of materialism helps a bad case of affluenza -- 3. Lighten up -- 4. Yopur country needs you (to work less, if you want to) -- 5. Change your shape, not your size -- 6. Keeping on track: performance indicators for a better society -- 7. There are many alternatives -- 8. Evaluating new ideas for your new society -- 9. So what's stopping ypu?

A truly modern affliction, affluenza is endemic in Western societies, encouraged by those who profit from a culture of exploitation and waste. So how do we cure ourselves? In this sparkling book of ideas, Richard Denniss shows we must distinguish between consumerism, the love of buying things, which is undeniably harmful to us and the planet, and materialism, the love of things, which can in fact be beneficial. We should cherish the things we own – preserve them, repair them, and then gift or sell them when we no longer need them. We must foster new ways of thinking and acting that do not squander limited resources, and which support the things we value most: vibrant communities and rich experiences. At once a lucid explanation of a critical global issue and a stirring call to action, Curing Affluenza will change the way you think about your place in the world.